About Hiring an EAC

There are several reasons you should hire an EAC:

Insight. Your EAC can assist you in the process of budgeting for your shows, building or buying a new exhibit and managing the cost of exhibit ownership.

Familiarity with your exhibit. Through ongoing relationships, your EAC will become familiar with your exhibit, which will save time and money, show after show. As a result, your exhibit should last longer and be more productive.

Control over your budget. Your EAC will become familiar with your goals, objectives and budget. By focusing their service on your needs, you gain control over your expenses.

Personal service. Since your EAC doesn't have an exclusive contract with the show producer or venue, they are more accountable to delivering the standard of service you deserve.

Control over your exhibit. You have the authority to approve the work done based on your standards. You can't exercise that authority as easily over the show contractor.

Convenience. Sometimes you may need to have exhibits in different locations at virtually the same time. Your EAC can have your exhibit setup and ready to go when you arrive.

When hiring an EAC, ask the important questions:

How long have you been in the tradeshow business? Experience is everything. Need we say more?

What services do you provide? Your exhibit may require a number of specialized services. Can your EAC provide the required services either directly, or through strategic partners?

Consider each of the following:

• Install and dismantle labor
• Supervision
• Logistics
• Transportation
• Storage
• Graphics production
• Repairs
   

Can you provide the required insurance certificate? Insurance is required on every tradeshow. No insurance, no EAC. It's that simple.

How many other clients do you have on this show? If your EAC has several other exhibitors to service on the same show, what attention to detail can they offer to you? Only you can decide the standard of service you expect.

How can I contact you in an emergency? Accessibility and responsiveness are vital elements of client service. Choose an EAC that is easy to reach and responds to your calls promptly.

What do you charge for your services? No doubt you've got a budget to meet, but that doesn't mean you should sacrifice quality or personal service.

What are your payment terms? Some EACs may offer liberal payment terms, but they generally charge more. By filing a credit card with your EAC, you encourage them to be more competitively priced.

Why shouldn't you hire an EAC?

Smaller exhibits that can be setup by one person in just a few minutes may not be feasible for hiring an EAC. Generally, required minimum labor calls simply make that cost-prohibitive. However, once you've got a relationship with your EAC, servicing your smaller exhibits becomes a part of their focus.